Appianline -

Located in the heart of Tuscany, near Florence, Pisa and Siena, Montecatini Terme is one of the most famous towns, renowned for the natural healing property of its waters.
Montecatini Alto is the original Montecatini settlement, lying a few hundred metres above the 'new' town while Montecatini Thermal Center is located in Valdinievole, in a pleasant and green area at the foot of the hill, where the historical medieval village of Montecatini Alto rises. It is connected with the city through a funicular.

The thermal baths of Montecatini are known since the XIV century but they achieved their highest international fame in the last years of last century. Besides the efficient and rich thermal equipment, divided into different establishments, the place boasts of an elegant and refined look: the numerous liberty-style buildings, the broad parks, the wooded alleys remind of many famous thermal resorts from the other side of the Alps. Numerous high-level manifestations, congress structures and additional equipment like the golf course and the hippodrome besides the pleasant geographic position with respect to the most important art centers of Europe, make of Montecatini not only a very interesting thermal resort, but also a holiday station.

Furthermore, art-lovers have a lot to discover in Montecatini Terme: from the frescoes and the decorations in liberty style by Galileo Chini, which adorn the vaults and the colonnades of the city, to the ceramics by Basilio Cascella spread around the spa centers and many more artists who in the early 20th century contributed to making this 'ville d'eaux' - 'city of waters' - well-known all around the world.

Montecatini to see

The Church and convent of Santa Maria a Ripa which are located near Porta di Borgo. The Ancient-style church dates back to the XII century while the convent foundation took place subsequently (XV-XVI century), by a group of women from Montecatini who joined the Order of St. Augustine; Porta di Borgo which is the only gate of the defensive system of the town that still remains. The ancient papers relate several gates along the walls (one for each road entering the castle), of which at present the name of a street or of an alley survives.

The present Fortress, near St. Peter's church, in the ancient papers was called "The Fortress of the Ancient Castle" or "Tramontana" in order to distinguish it from "The Carmel Fortress" or "New Castle" located on the opposite height. The medieval towers date back to 2nd half of the XII are typical medieval ancient buildings, evidence of their owner's wealth and power, visible from far off and characterizing the skyline. The Court House dates back to the Middle Ages, during the XVI century it was completely restored and enlarged; the Podesta's Palace shows architectural details typical of the XVII-XVIII centuries such as the window frames and the sandstone door; in the past the Podesta, charged by the Florentine government, lived in it.